Marlins To Bid For Colon Or Vazquez

The Marlins couldn't convince Mike Hampton to call Pro Player Stadium home, but that hasn't quelled their desire to add another premium pitcher to the rotation.

With the Winter Meetings a week away, the Marlins are preparing to make the Expos an offer that would bring either 20-game winner Bartolo Colon or budding star Javier Vazquez to South Florida, according to industry sources.

The Expos, owned by Major League Baseball, must cut roughly $10 million in salary to meet their target payroll of $43 million-$45 million. Colon, who will earn $8.25 million in 2003 before becoming a free agent, will probably be the first to go.

For the sake of keeping franchise player Vladimir Guerrero in their outfield, the Expos may also consider moving Vazquez, who pitched for Marlins manager Jeff Torborg in 2001 with the Expos.

Any deal involving the two clubs would likely require the Marlins to part with starter Brad Penny and at least one high-level prospect, an exchange the Marlins' front office is willing to make, a source said. The Expos need a first baseman and could seek either Double-A standout Adrian Gonzalez or Jason Stokes, who last season tore up the Class A Midwest League.

Neither will be major league ready in 2003, which could make a Marlins offer less alluring if the Yankees are willing to part with Nick Johnson, as speculated. The Yankees are one of several teams that likely will pursue Colon.

Like Vazquez, Penny is arbitration-eligible but will earn considerably less in 2003. Vazquez made $4.775 million last season, during which he was 10-13 with a 3.91 ERA. Penny will command about $1.5 million.

After consummating the three-team Hampton deal that sent catcher Charles Johnson and center fielder Preston Wilson to the Rockies, General Manager Larry Beinfest said the Marlins were at their $48 million payroll threshold for 2003. What he didn't say was that Loria would be willing to provide some leeway to acquire a premium starter like Colon or Vazquez, sources said.

The Marlins essentially would be renting Colon for a season, but Vazquez has one more year of arbitration after 2003. Some members of the Marlins' front office would prefer a trade for Vazquez, 26.